DESPITE the recent wind and rain, and other flower shows in the area on the same day, Spreyton Flower Show on Saturday saw some excellent produce.

Mrs Wendy Sincock, president of the flower show, opened the afternoon and presented trophies at the end.

Show secretary, Mrs Sharon Hawking, said it has been a very good show, the judges being impressed with the standard of the flowers and vegetables.

Cleave Collins managed to take home a big armful of trophies including one he had never won before in his 44 years of showing at Spreyton.

This was the Noel Broadbent rose bowl for the most outstanding exhibit in the show - Cleave’s three spikes of a lilac gladiola that was new to him this year.

Cleave said he had exhibited at the show every year for 44 years but never managed to win the best in show. His wife, Eve, died two years ago and had been much involved in the show and the village.

There was also a first time win for 11 years-old Martha Brook whose butterfly cakes won a special award in the children’s cookery class and who also won the junior cookery cup.

Martha had never exhibited before. She also took a first prize with a box she had made for chocolates. Martha will be going to Queen Elizabeth’s School next term.

As well as the serious stuff, there was the class for the longest runner bean won this year by Jack Brand with 540mm (21¹/4ins). Runner-up was John Redstone with 510mm, then Douglas Endacott, show chairman, with 455mm.

Jack Brand’s long carrots took the whole width of the table with their roots dangling over the edge to win the class for long carrots, Cleave being second.

Wendy Sincock took home the silver salver for most points in the craft and floral arrangement classes. She also won the special award for the floral arrangement classes.

As well as winning with her arrangement depicting South Africa (where she had represented the UK in the World Transplant Games), Wendy’s arrangement for a china wedding anniversary was first with her second display for a crystal anniversary coming third. These two classes could not exceed 24ins in any direction.

Cleave won the open cup for the exhibitor with most points, the residents’ cup for gaining most points, the open cup for most points with his vegetables, the open cup for flowers, the residents’ cup for most points in the residents flower classes, the Albert Luxton shield for most points overall in the flower classes, the Coombe cup for most points in the wine classes and the rose bowl for the best exhibit in the show.

He also won a special prize with his runner beans, for his flowers in the residents only flower classes, a special prize given for the first time this year with his sweet peas.

John Endacott took the trophy for gaining most points in the residents vegetables classes.

The silver salver for gaining most points for preserves went to Angela Hawkins, show treasurer, who also won the cup for most points in the cookery classes.

The junior cookery cup went to Martha Brook, aged 11, who also won a special award with her butterfly cakes.

The children’s cup was won by Lilia. Other special awards went to Ann Shackleford for preserves, Belle Rickard for Jam, Peter and Sarah Rickard with their alcoholic drink, Penny Brand for six stems of flowers, six years-old Alba Hutchinson with her model of a dinosaur, Norma Flake for her fruit cake made to the recipe given and Wendy with her floral arrangement, Mark Horton with his shallots.

The special award from Spreyton Garden Club for a pelargonium geranium grown in a pot went to Jane Clark.

Usually a whist drive was held after the show but this year that was replaced with a bingo evening on Tuesday.

Presentation of awards was followed by an auction of produce not taken home by exhibitors.

Proceeds were for the Royal National Institute for the Blind and Village Trust Funds.

Spreyton Flower Show is the oldest event held in the village, schedules date back to the 1950s.

Sue Read